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Limitations and future outlooks for char and its composites in energy harvesting application

  • Moklis Muhammad Harussani ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Salit Mohd Sapuan ORCID logo EMAIL logo and Md Rubel
Published/Copyright: May 29, 2025
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Physical Sciences Reviews
From the journal Physical Sciences Reviews Volume 10 Issue 5-6

Abstract

This book chapter explores the recent advancements and future prospects of carbon materials, specifically char reinforced composites, in the field of energy harvesting. Carbon materials have gained significant attention due to their unique properties, such as high electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical strength. The incorporation of char, a carbon-rich residue obtained from the incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic matter, as a reinforcing agent in composites, has shown promising results in energy harvesting applications. The chapter begins with an overview of chars and their key properties that make them suitable for energy conversion and storage, including their ability to facilitate electron transfer and withstand harsh environmental conditions. The focus then shifts to char, highlighting its abundance as a by-product of various industrial processes and its potential as a reinforcement material in composites. Furthermore, the chapter discusses recent development and limitations faced by char and its composites in energy harvesting applications, including solar cells, thermoelectric generators, and supercapacitors. Finally, the chapter outlines the future directions and the potential for exploring novel carbon sources and the integration of char composites in emerging energy harvesting technologies.

Keywords: carbonization; thermochemical; carbon nanostructures; fillers; biocomposite
Corresponding authors: Moklis Muhammad Harussani, Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan; and Advanced Engineering Materials and Composites Research Centre (AEMC), Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, E-mail: ; and Salit Mohd Sapuan, Advanced Engineering Materials and Composites Research Centre (AEMC), Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

Authors thank to Universiti Putra Malaysia for providing the research facility and the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship for the financial support.

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: None declared.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2024-12-07
Accepted: 2025-03-12
Published Online: 2025-05-29

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Composites in battery casing and energy storage
  4. On the development of pharmacokinetic models for the characterisation and diagnosis of von Willebrand disease
  5. Energy efficiency and sustainability in composites industry
  6. Limitations and future outlooks for char and its composites in energy harvesting application
  7. Computational methods for advanced mass spectrometry – a review
  8. A novel strategy for brain cancer treatment through a multiple emulsion system for simultaneous therapeutics delivery
https://doi.org/10.1515/psr-2024-0024
Keywords for this article
carbonization; thermochemical; carbon nanostructures; fillers; biocomposite

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Composites in battery casing and energy storage
  4. On the development of pharmacokinetic models for the characterisation and diagnosis of von Willebrand disease
  5. Energy efficiency and sustainability in composites industry
  6. Limitations and future outlooks for char and its composites in energy harvesting application
  7. Computational methods for advanced mass spectrometry – a review
  8. A novel strategy for brain cancer treatment through a multiple emulsion system for simultaneous therapeutics delivery
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